As maha Kumbh 2025 comes to an end, it leaves a lasting impression on the economy, political debate, and faith and tradition.
 
Prayagraj is hosting an unprecedented 65 crore pilgrims, which has generated discussions about issues of governance, economic effect, and religious devotion.  Both devotion and controversy have surrounded maha Kumbh 2025, from stampedes and sanitation issues to billion-dollar economic forecasts.
 
A ₹3 lakh crore Opportunity
 
 According to the Uttar Pradesh administration, which is headed by chief minister yogi adityanath, maha Kumbh 2025 would boost the state's economy by more than ₹3 lakh crore.  Businesses in a variety of industries, from fintech and technology startups to FMCG and hotels, have reportedly used this large gathering to grow their markets, according to industry experts and trade associations like the Confederation of All india Traders (CAIT).

In the past, the Kumbh mela has been a major source of income.  With an investment of ₹1,017 crore, the 2013 edition made ₹12,000 crore, but in 2019, profits soared to ₹1.2 lakh crore.  Maha Kumbh 2025 is expected to provide at least ₹2 lakh crore in returns, despite an anticipated ₹7,500 crore in expenditures this time.  According to the yogi administration, this is the first step toward Uttar Pradesh's goal of a $1 trillion economy.

But these statistics are surrounded with suspicion.  Critics and opposition leaders contend that although companies could have made money, the state's infrastructure suffered greatly.  The sheer volume of attendees—more than the US population—raises concerns about long-term sustainability and resource allocation.
 
A 144-year phenomenon or political narrative?

Whether the Kumbh mela this year actually occurs once every 144 years is one of the main points of contention.  The assertion that this Kumbh mela is a once-in-a-lifetime event that takes place after 144 years was questioned by West bengal chief minister mamata Banerjee.  She noted that the Kumbh mela is held only every twelve years, but Gangasagar is held yearly.  She said that, in accordance with certain regulations and customs, the neem wood statue at the puri temple is changed every twelve years.  She emphasized that each location has its unique traditions and mentioned that, from what she had heard, the Kumbh mela was also conducted in 2013.  She went on to say that she was willing to be corrected if her interpretation was wrong.
 
The Shankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth, Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, also attacked the government for spreading "false narratives" that he claimed overstated the importance of this year's festival.  He blamed the government for its inability to control crowds and its disrespect for pilgrims' safety.
 
Suvendu Adhikari, a bjp politician, downplayed these worries, claiming that the once-in-144-year cycle is supported by astrological and historical calculations.  Mamata Banerjee was accused by him of trying to subvert Sanatana dharma for political purposes.  The argument draws attention to how religion and politics interact, with faith frequently being used to gain political support.
 
Tragedy & Chaos

Maha Kumbh 2025 was tainted by a number of tragedies, including a terrible stampede that killed at least 30 lives, despite its magnificence.  Crowd control was an issue for the second 'Amrit Snan,' which took place on january 29 along the Sangam banks.  The yogi administration has strongly refuted opposition parties' accusations that it hid the true death toll.
 
Water quality and sanitation also became controversial issues after the rush.  Concerns over the safety of ceremonial dips were raised by the Central pollution Control Board's finding of elevated fecal coliform germs in the Ganga.  But yogi adityanath denied these results, stating that the river was still suitable for ceremonial drinking ('aachman') and bathing ('snan').
 
Technology Meets Tradition

Underwater surveillance and artificial intelligence
 
Artificial intelligence and contemporary surveillance technologies were widely used at maha Kumbh for the first time in its history.  To maintain resource management and security, more than 3,000 cameras—1,800 of which were AI-enabled—were installed to monitor foot traffic.  While more than 60,000 people were on duty to stop stampedes and other disasters, underwater drones kept an eye on river activities.
 
 Despite these developments, crowd management was a monumental undertaking due to the huge number of pilgrims.  There were more than six fire accidents throughout the event, however no fatalities were reported.  India's changing strategy for overseeing sizable religious gatherings is seen in this blending of long-standing customs with contemporary security measures.
 
 
 

 
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Maha Kumbh 2025

SIBY JEYYA

27/02/2025 09:10 AM